Steve Howe Trio - New Frontier (2019)

Y seguimos con la saga Howe en el blog cabeza, gracias otra vez a Horacio Manrique. The Steve Howe Trio es un proyecto en clave de jazz del guitarrista de Yes, Steve Howe, en el que se rinden homenaje a iconos del género como Kenny Burrell y Miles Davis. Steve cuenta con su hijo Dylan como batería y con el organista Ross Stanley.

Artista: Steve Howe Trio
Álbum: New Frontier
Año: 2019
Género: Crossover prog /  Jazz fusión
Duración: 43:26
Referencia: Discogs
Nacionalidad: Inglaterra

Not a shock at all really, nor can I say that I am surprised at the quality of the material. Some might say it’s routine, but I find the nature of the performances, and in most cases here the paring down to simplest of arrangements, is great. You can hear from this how (no pun) Steve and his music contribute to the final sound in the progressive rock environment.

The trio combines Steve Howe’s guitars with Dylan Howe on drums and Ross Stanley on keyboards. This, I understand, is their second album following on from 2008’s The Haunted Melody. I have always had a fondness for jazz since my introduction to it in my mid-twenties, and for someone looking for a broad-spectrum introduction, I would happily recommend this. With elements of tradition as well as some interesting contemporary takes, there is some great music here.

Hiatus, the first track and possibly a statement, is a smooth introduction to the album, contrasting Spanish/classical guitar with some laid-back keys and a soft brushed back-beat. Whilst jazz structured, it would equally be at home as good quality incidental music. Expectations of long intricate explorations of musical pathways should be suspended as the longest track here is just over 6-minutes. But for all that, or not, I find myself closing my eyes and losing myself in the tunes. Hiatus also has some of those key stylings from the more famous rock band Mr Howe appears with from time to time.

Left to Chance is that longest track. A simple pattern of notes that builds into a construction of alternating guitar and organ passages, circling around each other, almost a jam session. Taking turns to lead on the compositions main theme. Despite a potentially repetitious nature the work ambles from beginning to end, never outstaying its welcome.

Fair Weather Friend appears to your listener to be variations around a nursery rhyme theme; I have recollections of a variation around Three Blind Mice, Oscar Petersen or Dave Brubeck, but probably someone completely different, seemingly simple but a really nice piece and for me at least evoking a few memories.

Zodiac is refreshingly easy to listen to, the main focus being the organ with embellishments from guitar. My cop-out way to describe this album is as an introduction for young people or people who say that they do not like Jazz.

The emphasis changes. Gilded Splinter sees a variety of melodies played in a round over each other, building into a verse/chorus-like structure without words; it’s a lovely piece of music that to some extent is crying out for someone to put words to it. Who knows, once heard maybe that will happen. I love the way in which the instruments play against each other whilst still retaining a harmony.

Showdown has familiar elements, I think I’ve heard this before despite being new, my closest approximation being the theme to the Parkinson chat show. Not exactly, but something like that. Another tip of the tongue, fingertip moment. Whatever the inspiration it is, as are all on here, refined and beautifully executed.

Pizzicato strings begin, weaving, developing as a picture grows, the opening bars of Missing Link is relaxed listening, and I have had it on in the background when typing many other things as well as this review. The music lends itself to that varying focus, but still delivers an enjoyable experience.

The final three tracks continue to deliver that quality listening experience, Missing Link being by far my favourite from an album of delights, whether I sit and listen, or it’s on while I read a book or draw, it is a good companion. All of these last three tracks fall into the progressive jazz genre, that is merely for placement as the musical fusion that the trio have has no real boundaries, the blended acoustic and electric fusion is seamless.

New Frontier brings the combination of amplified and acoustic to bear in a beautiful album, not prog, more progressive jazz, but even with the jazz label, it’s difficult to pin down. It will not be sat in the top five end of 2019 selection; it does not fit that narrow progressive pathway, but it will be one of my favourites. Where does it belong? If you are a non-jazz aficionado, then this may be the album to convert you. If you need an introduction to jazz, this album will ease you in nicely. Already a fan, then you will enjoy every moment. A very valuable addition to lovers of a broad range of music.

Name November was all about me catching up with a glut of releases from the well known artists and important lesser known ones who apparently waited to release their new work all at once. In hindsight, November shone because of bands at the heavier end of the spectrum: Opeth, Insomnium, Alcest, Mayhem, Nile and Exhorder. Only Jeff Lynne's ELO album really stood out amongst them from a lighter perspective, so I'm interested to see if anything else light might play well in that company.

So here's Steve Howe, best known as the guitarist for prog rock legends Yes (and their temporary continuation in Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe), but he also deserves recognition for his work for arena rock bands such as Asia and GTR. Add a many solo albums, plenty of collaborations and guest appearances on albums for artists as varied as Lou Reed, Frankie Goes to Hollywood and William Shatner and you have a serious rock career.

The Steve Howe Trio is a jazz group featuring Howe on guitar, his son Dylan on drums and Ross Stanley on Hammond organ. There are no vocals and there's no bass. As you might imagine, it's easy listening both in the sense that it really is easy to listen to and in the sense that it could well be piped out of hidden speakers in hotel lobbies. This is their third album in just over a decade, following 2008's The Haunted Melody and 2010's Travelling.

However, it's also interesting stuff if we focus in and, with Howe the major driving force and with fellow Yes alumnus Bill Bruford contributing to three of the ten tracks, it's not entirely shorn of the prog rock elements that we might be forgiven for seeking out. And, while this is clearly Howe exploring a new musical direction, hence the title, there's prog rock here, especially early on.

Hiatus, for instance, may be an odd title for an opening track, but it's an impressive one whose major flaw is that it ends too soon. This is prog rock, especially before the drums kick in, with Howe coaxing delightful sounds out of his guitar and Stanley's Hammond doing exactly what we don't expect. The drums don't add much here, but the combination of guitar and keyboard could easily have built into a Yes song, with a full band joining in when it ends.

Left to Chance, the longest song on the album at six and a half minutes, is prog for a while too, again mostly through the interplay between guitar and organ. Dylan Howe gets the picture a minute in and gets interesting too. If the song progresses into more overt jazz territory after a while, that's OK because this is a jazz trio, but Yes fans coming to this will have found it worthy. Of course, it's hard not to imagine Yes fans not getting into Howe's guitar, whatever it is that he's doing.

I'm not remotely well versed enough in jazz to recognise anything that this trio borrow from the expansive jazz songbook, but some parts do sound rather familiar, especially on Showdown but also on Fair Weather Friend and others. It doesn't matter, of course. Jazz is all about reinventing material, often in an improvisatory setting. This doesn't seem loose enough to be a freeform jam but that doesn't mean that they aren't riffing on older material in new songs.

I enjoyed this interlude from the heavier side of name November. It's hardly going to be of interest to all rock fans and it's not remotely challenging, but anyone into prog and jazz would likely get a kick out of it. Even with only three instruments recorded in a bare bones setting, there's plenty of interesting stuff going on.

The Steve Howe Trio is an English jazz trio led by YES guitarist Steve Howe. Howe formed the band in 2007 with his son Dylan Howe on drums and Ross Stanley on Hammond organ.  Howe’s latest album features three co-written tunes with former band mate Bill Bruford aptly titled New Frontier.  The album comes as a stunning follow up to the 2008 studio album The Haunted Melody and the live album Travelling.  Reflective of the jazz-fusion persona Steve Howe the album takes the listener through a winding road of heavy hitting playing and notable new tunes. Of interest for the collector in you, the album will be released on both on CD and 180g vinyl formats (cut at Abbey Road Studios), so certainly one can cherish each morsel of the sonics.

On New Frontier, the rhythmic inventiveness of “Hiatus” has Bruford’s influences all in it. Howe and Bruford co-wrote the tune and it kicks off the album with a rich tapestry of sounds. Howe’s volume swells are as expressive as is his acoustic playing over a vamping chordal section. The tune is not long or built upon a big complex form, but instead, it allows Howe to create colors on his guitar that are indicative to his style and mastery. The sounds of Stanley are ever supportive, and Dylan sounds great as he lays down a serious groove. There are sounds and a sense of 60s nostalgia in the mood and character of “Hiatus.” A welcomed additive.

“Left to Chance” is a tour-de-force of feels and sounds from this creative trio. Starting with a melodic chordal pattern that builds upon layers, the trio leads us to a riff styled melody that is orchestrated by different colors and developed with a depth of sonic. Next, is a funky groove and a very cool guitar part from Howe. His distorted guitar builds a story on a riff that he moves around. The trio never gets frantic or crazy, but instead focuses on building each melody to create an overall musical statement. The three musicians share a chemistry and they project a musical confidence and maturity that is intense. There is a surprise jam on the riff at the end of the tune, and that is when things really get deep.

Howe was always a cornerstone sound with YES, with his own trio he explores the power of the Hammond organ paired with guitar and drums, that driving force is a catapult for Howe’s playing. Equally balanced with moments of shred and melodic styling, Howe is percolating along better than ever.  In his playing you can hear a deepening of maturity that is just as articulate and intense as in his younger years, but with a relaxed mystic that makes the listen even more savory.

Lista de Temas:
1. Hiatus
2. Left To Chance
3. Fair Weather Friend
4. Zodiac
5. Gilded Splinter
6. Showdown
7. Missing Link
8. Outer Limit
9. Western Sun
10. The Changing Same

Alineación:
- Steve Howe / guitars
- Ross Stanley / organ
- Dylan Howe / drums